Great Things to do in the South West of England

I have lived most of my life in the beautiful south west of England and felt that it was only fitting that I share some of this beautiful area of the United Kingdom with anyone who is thinking about a visit or travelling to this beautiful part of the country. The south west of England can be broken down into its 3 core counties – Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. These represent the UK’s top tourist destinations outside of London and are well worth visiting – let me tell you why.

Somerset

Somerset is perhaps the least visited of the three counties so we shall deal with it first. The county is most famous for its cheese and its cider but it also offers you some of the best beaches in the country and some great English seaside resorts such as Weston Super Mare and Minehead. Nearby you can explore the impressive Cheddar gorge with its cave complexes and beautiful working watermill. The countryside of the county changes between rolling hills in the north to the vast open plain of the levels making it a paradise for ramblers the world over.

Devon

Devon may perhaps be best known in the UK for the countryside and beaches that really draw in the crowds and make this such a beautiful part of the country. Holiday cottages in Devon give you the opportunity to enjoy relaxed family beaches and more lively surfer’s paradises. The areas in the north around Saunton sands, Woolacombe and Barnstaple offer access to some of the best surfing spots in the country. Further south you can explore the vast moorlands of Exmoor and Dartmoor and enjoy the beautiful river dart that wends its way through forests to reach the southern coasts. The south of Devon plays home to Exeter – one of England’s prettiest cities with its fantastic cathedral and quaint medieval streets.

Cornwall

Cornwall is well known for its fantastic beach resorts, beautiful landmarks and of course the famous English cream tea. The area is incredibly popular with tourists from all over the world and is a rich haven of arts and history. Holiday cottages in Cornwall offer you fantastic access to beaches as the whole county is less than 3 miles wide in most places. Newquay is incredibly popular with younger travellers looking to enjoy fantastic surf and lively clubs and pubs whilst nearby St. Ives is more popular with artists and more sedate travellers. St. Ives has an incredibly rich artistic community and the beautiful Tate gallery here is well worth visiting. If you’re travelling with family then Lands End is a must visit, though it is a little tackily made into a tourist trap, but the view across the Atlantic is well worth it. Inland you can find the remains of barrows and standing stone circles in a plethora of locations and explore the rich history of prehistoric life that played out across this landscape. From the north of the county you can take a ferry trip to the Isles of Scilly and enjoy these beautiful islands and there huge populations of migrating seabirds.

The south west of England clearly offers some of the finest scenery and most beautiful beaches England has to offer with a rich variety of entertainment and history always close at hand. The people are warm and welcoming and the beer is fantastic so come on over.

Comments

Feb 8, 2012 6:43am

freespirit_2
Very interesting article, Sam. I live in the South West and can vouch for its beauty and the variety of things to do.

Feb 8, 2012 9:39am

inkedwriter
I loved Devon...we went to Torquay for a vacation when I was a kid, and did one of those mystery bus tours, and Devon was where we landed. I love those thatched cottages and the whole country village feel...reminds me of Luss in Scotland, right on the banks of Loch Lomond

Feb 9, 2012 9:26am

SamJones
@ Freespirit - I unfortunately have moved to Bristol now which is much less pretty.

@inkedwriter - It's just a great part of the country but i'd happily replace the cider and beer with a decent single malt

Feb 10, 2012 7:12am

eileen
You make a visit to England enticing. I would love to go there because my parents were born in Essex and Forrest Gate. But as I hate flying its a little bit too far to walk from Oz. Thanks for sharing England with us.

Feb 11, 2012 8:45am

SamJones
Eileen you should completely comee over and visit this beautiful part of the country. The south west of England is beautiful - just take some sleepin pills before you jump on the fligh and you'll be here before you know it ;)

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